The strongest champion puzzle

Chapter 8 Let Me Take Control

The Clippers, like the Lakers in the last game, did not get a good rookie this year.

Their main players in the summer league this time can be said to be old fritters for Xinnen.

2006 No. [-] overall pick Adam Morrison trying to come back, and Morrison's one-year wanderer Hilton Armstrong, as well as third-year players Eric Bledsoe and Trico White.

Adam Morrison felt good in the first two games, killing the Quartet as if he was back in college. The task Jacques Vaughan gave Zhang Xiaotian was to limit the opponent's first scoring point.

The Clippers got the chance to take the lead in the jump ball, and Zhang Xiaotian immediately clung to Adam Morrison.

Adam Morrison is not the kind of player with great strength and speed. To deal with this type of shooter, he cannot give him the space to shoot. Zhang Xiaotian will definitely seek confrontation.

After scoring, Zhang Xiaotian was still entangled with Adam Morrison, and the Clippers scored through Bledsoe.

It was the Spurs' turn to attack, and it was Corey Joseph who advanced with the ball.

Although Zhang Xiaotian is now a starter, his treatment is not comparable to that of Leonard.

In positional battles, if Leonard was in position and asked for the ball, Corey Joseph would pass it right away, but now it was replaced by Zhang Xiaotian, and the opponent directly chose to ignore it.

Corey Joseph is a combo guard. Without the core Leonard appointed by the coach, he feels that it is time to show his offensive ability above his level.

Corey Joseph also made a jump shot, Zhang Xiaotian didn't hesitate, and concentrated his energy on defense again.

Adam Morrison didn't ask for the ball directly. He asked for an off-ball screen after running continuously. It can be seen that this is the Clippers' tactic.

The moment Zhang Xiaotian was blocked, Adam Morrison had already caught the ball and made a shot.

With a swipe, a three-pointer was hit.

Zhang Xiaotian knows why this guy can kill all directions in the summer league. The summer league can't come up with any sophisticated defensive system. It doesn't matter if he doesn't have too strong body and speed for this kind of catch and shoot after the off-ball screen. OK.

In other words, when the opponent's physical strength is good, Zhang Xiaotian can't do much by himself.

It can only be increased consumption. In the second half, the opponent's physical strength will decrease, so it will not be so accurate.

To be honest, the level of the Spurs is not bad without Leonard. Corey Joseph and James Anderson both have a basket, but they are even more uncooperative.

In contrast, the Clippers have a slightly better rhythm, which comes from Bledsoe. He has a strong body, and Corey Joseph can't restrain him at all.

Jacques Vaughn also frowned. In fact, when Leonard was there, the Spurs played at a low level in order to let Leonard show his full ability. It stands to reason that the Spurs would play more fiercely after Leonard left.

Judging from the situation on the court, the Spurs players wanted to express themselves after Leonard left, but the effect was not very good. With Zhang Xiaotian close to Adam Morrison, the Clippers' attack system did not suffer much. Affected, the score has been leading.

When it comes to the rotation period, the two sides are pecking at each other even more.

Jacques Vaughn couldn't help but miss the first two games. At that time, with Zhang Xiaotian in the rotation, the team seemed much more stable.

As the coach of the summer league, Jacques Vaughn actually has some ideas. He has served as an assistant coach in the Spurs for two years, and a team has contacted him. He may have the opportunity to become the head coach of a certain team next.

Even in the summer league, he wants to play some tactics.

Today's formation change seems unsuccessful, Jacques Vaughan hastened to make adjustments and asked the players to play out the tactics they used during training.

But the effect of the two adjustments was not obvious. He thought about one thing wrong. After Leonard left the team without an absolute core, the team shared the ball even worse.

Leonard is not the kind of "independent" player. The ball can be shared well by his handball team, but no player can do it now.

During the intermission, the team fell behind by 6 points, and Jacques Vaughan was a little unhappy. It was not just about the score, but the team was completely alone in the first half.

"You should know the culture of the Spurs team. If you don't know how to share the ball, you can't be the players the team really needs."

At the beginning of the second half, the players on the field began to share the ball, but they felt awkward.

Passing also requires awareness. It is often more difficult than scoring. If you can't grasp the timing, it will seriously reduce the offensive efficiency.

Among them, James Anderson refused to pass the ball to Zhang Xiaotian because of that little conflict, which delayed several opportunities. As a result, halfway through the third quarter, the Spurs fell behind by 10 points.

Jacques Vaughan simply replaced both Zhang Xiaotian and James Anderson to make them sober.

Zhang Xiaotian was a little bit wronged, he was always against the ball and against people on the field, James Anderson is such a bastard, he already has a contract but he has nothing to fear.

However, Zhang Xiaotian also calmed down after changing the game. There is no point in getting angry with James Anderson. What he needs to consider is how to perform well and how to help the team win.

Only by performing well can he get a contract. If he does not perform well after Leonard leaves, he will not be recognized by the team.

The two years of playing temporary work while playing amateur leagues have given him a lot of training. He used to sit on the bench in college and he would just be silent, but now it is different.

He took the initiative to come to Jacques Vaughan to discuss the situation on the field.

"In fact, our lineup is definitely not worse than the Clippers. I think we will fall behind because there is one less player on the court who can connect the team. Kawhi has done a good job before. The coach must see it more clearly than me."

Of course Jacques Vaughan understands that the team is now letting Corey Joseph take on this role, but it is a pity that Corey Joseph is still a bit close.

He also considered Zhang Xiaotian, but Zhang Xiaotian's prestige in the team is not enough, the players on the field may not cooperate, and the team's investigation of Zhang Xiaotian is mainly defensive.

Just when Jacques Vaughn struggled, the team fell even further behind.

Without Zhang Xiaotian's defense, Adam Morrison made consecutive hits and became a star on the field.

If Jacques Vaughan had no ambitions, he wouldn't care about winning or losing the game. Anyway, the summer league is to test players, and winning or losing doesn't have much impact.

But he wants to win, and Jacques Vaughn doesn't want to be seen as having won the first two games with Leonard.

"Coach, let me control the team's offense in the fourth quarter. I will definitely be able to win this game with my teammates. Just tell me what needs to be paid attention to."

When Zhang Xiaotian was full of confidence, the timing was just right, and Jacques Vaughan immediately made up his mind.

"Cory, pass more balls to Zhang Xiaotian when you play, and play No. [-] tactic."

Before the start of the fourth quarter, Jacques Vaughn set the tone.

(End of this chapter)